26 September 1999
ADOPTION OF A NATIONAL POLICY ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: AIRCRAFT NOISE AND ENGINE EMISSIONS.
The Department of Transport has developed a draft policy document on aircraft noise and engine emissions following the International Civil Aviation Organisations’ (ICAO’s) resolutions to have a policy framework in place regarding environmental issues, and the worldwide trend relating to minimising the impact of aircraft noise and engine emissions on the environment. The consultative process was extensive and involved all the role players in the aviation industry, metropolitan authorities, civil organisations and several branches of Government.
The policy is at the stage of being finalised. Final amendments to the document are being incorporated after the final comments were received from the stake holders. This will be followed by a presentation of the document to MINCOM (Ministerial Committee) on 29 November 1999.(Provisional)
The document serves to inform all South African air carriers and aircraft owners that all remaining noisier (Chapter 2) aircraft should be phased out over a period of seven (7) years commencing 1 January 2003. By 31 December 2009 all Chapter 2 aircraft should be phased out.
As this is an ICAO recommended practise, all stakeholders agreed to have their aircraft phased out. The document proposes after 4 years 50% of the Chapter 2 aircraft must be phased out or 80% of the total fleet must consist of less noisier Chapter 3 aircraft. After 6 years 75% of Chapter 2 aircraft must be phased out or 90% of the total fleet must be Chapter 3 aircraft. By 31 December 2009 100% of the total fleet must consist of Chapter 3 aircraft.
This policy proposal is widely supported by the airlines and the Airline Association of Southern Africa (AASA). One of the elementary reasons for putting such legislation in place, is to assist residents living in close proximity of the airport, to be relieved of the noise implication of the existing noisier aircraft. The health implications have also been taken into consideration as exposure to loud noise on a daily basis is known to be a severe health hazard.
Most if not all of the airlines raised objection to the imposition of any additional levies. From the consultations that have taken place, it has been made clear that the levy will be used for the monitoring and measurement of aircraft noise, for preventing and reducing noise. It was agreed however, that the principle of environmental levy be retained in the document but not implemented at this stage.
The omission of environmental levies from being implemented as policy will result in no maintenance of noise monitoring and track keeping systems and no funds being available for insulating houses and buildings lying within restricted contours of relocating certain building.
The principle relating to Engine Emissions is accepted by the industry. However as the income from the Environmental Levy will have to be used to monitor the air quality at airports, we are recommending that the principle be kept in the document but not become part of legislation.
The Department of Transport, facilitated by the relevant authorities and the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) also aims to update the current noise contour model. Noise contours are an essential part of the long term planning of land uses around existing and future airports. This implies that land previously earmarked for development, especially industrial and residential may not be available for such developmental projects.
For further information contact: Mr Nasser Solomon 012 309 3573
Issued by Mike Mabasa
Media Liaison Officer
to Minister of Transport, Dullah Omar
Pretoria, 26 September 1999
083 680 7048